Shocks to the head of large French
History! No fewer than three giants of French capitalism take their bow this spring. The vintage 2010 general meetings, which are in full swing in recent days, promises to be dominated by the departure of Presidents of Sanofi-Aventis, Total and Saint-Gobain. Jean-Francois Dehecq, Thierry Desmarest and Jean-Louis Beffa, former CEO during the course of their groups, have already sold one after the other the reins of the general direction of their dolphin. By one month, they also give up the presidency, he had kept time to pass the baton smoothly.
For a year, one quarter of the CAC 40 have experienced at their head movements, visible these days as AG. This is often an opportunity for groups to reconstruct the position of CEO, dear to the French tradition. Christophe de Margerie, and Pierre-Andre de Chalendar thus inherit full power Discount Total and Saint-Gobain.France Telecom, meanwhile, saw a rapid transition after the scandal of suicide. St?phane Richard, who took over on March 1, Didier Lombard Branch knows that it will not last: it is proposed as an administrator at the meeting of June 9, to get the Grail as CEO in spring 2011 .
Ultimately, if we exclude the Cr?dit Agricole – true to his rule called "four eyes" – and who will succeed Jean-Marie Sander Rene Carron as head of the group, the Germano-Canadian Christopher Viehbacher (Sanofi-Aventis ) is the only general managers to remain under supervision despite the departure of its president. Serge Weinberg takes effect in the torch left by Jean-Francois Dehecq, the founder of the pharmaceutical company.A matter of nationality? Last year, the board of Societe Generale had waived, under political pressure, to entrust the presidency to Britain's Tony Wyand after the resignation of Daniel Bouton. Rather than having a candidate imposed by the Elysee, the bank was then promoted its managing director Frederic Oud?a the rank of CEO and Tony Wyand placed at his side as vice president.
Vice President referent
If he returns to court, the model of the French boss is omnipotent and more often mitigated by the presence of a guardian "Jiminy Cricket" by his side. At Veolia, already, after the departure of Henri Proglio, his successor Anthony fawn followed closely since last fall by his vice-president, Louis Schweitzer. Axa similar pattern. Henri de Castries, chairman of the board so far, has certainly been converted CEO last week.But at the same time, Norbert Dentressangle, the owner of eponymous transport group, has been appointed as vice-chair, "referring independent director.
Jacques de Chateauvieux, who had succeeded to the presidency of the Executive to Claude Bebear, Axa's founder, had found himself as the structure to the Executive and Supervisory Board was not justified.
As at Societe Generale, had to adjust the statutes to give substance to this vice presidency, that does not exist in French law. Thursday, shareholders of Vinci will last for Yves-Thibault de Silguy at the podium as President. The great servant of the State, which had been called to the rescue in 2006 following the hectic departure of Antoine Zacharias, sits down on the vice-presidency. Xavier Huillard, the group general manager of concessions, makes him the scepter of CEO.A development designed to end the tensions that prevailed in Vinci.
Not easy, indeed, to live day to day relationship between a "chairman" and "CEO" in a foreign country that tradition. "France and the United States are the only countries where these functions remain separate," recalls Loic Dessaint, in Proxinvest, a consulting firm in corporate governance. In light of these latest twists, it appears increasingly that the wave of the separation of powers, meeting in the mid-2000s, showed more concern for some employers to ensure a smooth transition with a real cultural revolution. We had already seen, in 2009, Carlos Ghosn CEO of Renault erected at the term of office of Louis Schweitzer. The method remains valid.Essilor, Xavier Fontanet was withdrawn and the presidency since January 1, transmitting the general direction Hubert Sagnieres. Even the intended movement of 1 July for the specialist Veritas Geophysical GSC.
Finally, it may be tempting to take the highway in reverse, it can be expensive. Jean-Francois Roverato, CEO of Eiffage, who had time left for the operational reins back then paid dearly for this year. Its board of directors granted a renewal of his mandate for one year …